Peter P's brother, my ancestor George Peter, married Amanda Hummel, daughter of Benjamin Hummel and Catherine Hilbish. Susannah Hilbish was the daughter of Catherine's brother Henry. So since this family is of interest to me on my Mertz line and my Hilbish line, I have tried to track them a little more thoroughly than some other branches.

From a listing of the deceased of Mifflin County taken from obituaries: Susan Mertz died 1 Aug 1874 at age 53y 11m 16d. She was the wife of Peter P of Freeburg. But she was really 55 and why was this in a Mifflin County newspaper?

Susan is on find-a-grave.



http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=149987769

Peter P was a known son of my 3G GF Peter. He was named in his father’s will and he was buried near his parents. He is designated P4a3.

P P Mertz (this man I assume) was a Snyder County Commissioner from 1865-1868.

Peter P is on find-a-grave.

The 1845 marriage of Peter Mertz and Susanna Hilbish was documented by Charles A Fisher. They were both buried at St. Peter's Union Church with their (and my) Mertz and Hilbish ancestors.

His tombstone identifies him as Peter P Mertz as does Census and Jack Mertz (my Dad's cousin who provided me my first glimpse into my Mertz ancestry) also refers to him with middle initial "P". Peter P had a brother Philip P -- whom I believe was Philip Peter and another brother (my ancestor) George Peter and a third brother John P. Could all of them have had the middle name Peter? Or, would it be too weird if John P and Peter P had the middle name Philip?

Peter P Mertz lived his entire life in Freeburg. I am interested in this couple even though they are not direct ancestors of mine because I am descended from ancestors of both of them. So all of their descendants are cousins of mine in two different ways.

It is interesting that Peter P got the largest tombstone monolith of the many Mertzes buried at St. Peter’s. My observation is that typically that honor went to the progenitor of the family in a certain town. Peter P was the grandson of the progenitor. His grandfather, Philip, who was the progenitor, was most likely buried on his farm and no trace of any stone he may have had survives. However, Peter P’s father, Peter, is buried at St. Peter’s, but with just a simple small stone.

On 29 May 1877, Letters of Administration were issued to John A Mertz on the estate of Peter P Mertz, who John A said died 23 Apr 1877.